TheoKole

8 ♥ Theo

I'll add my 2 cents worth. Believe me that if I or anyone else made the best leads against slam or even game contracts all the time WE would be the player playing for our countries in the Bermuda Bowl. I've heard quoted that of all contracts that aren't laydown, that 50% of them suceed or fail on the opening lead. That said, there are some guidelines that I follow: The first thing I do is pay close attention to the bidding, I see if I can picture the shape and strength of the declarer and the dummy. Has either of them shown long suits during the bidding? Have they done any cue-bidding indicating controls? How many trumps do you think they have between the hands? Do you have or can you picture your partner to have a trump stack that declarer doesn't know about yet? Can you see that some suits are breaking badly for declarer? Do you hold strength in declarers suits that dummy has indicated a shortness in, (meaning that declarer is going to try and ruff his losers with dummy's trumps.) Has partner bid or Doubled a cue-bid to indicated an opening lead that he would like you to make. A little more sophisticated thinking would be if there was something that seems wierd in the bidding that doesn't make logical sense to you. Try to make it make sense from declarers point of view. The more information that the opening leader has from the bidding, the better. Basically if you can figure out the shape and strength of the hand of declarer and dummy, you can also figure out how the declarer plans or at least hopes to make his contract. As the opening leader, you try to destroy those plans with your lead. Does the bidding make it sound that declarer is planning a cross-ruff or at least several ruff's in dummy - then lead a trump. Sometimes even from a Q, the declarer won't believe you would do such a thing so he may finesse into you playing your partner from the Q. Has dummy or declarer indicated a long side suit - after pulling trumps declarer will run the side suit for tricks - this is time for an attacking lead away from a King or Queen. (If you or your partner have a trump entry - declarer may not have the time needed to run the suit. Do you have an extraordinary amount of high cards for the bidding of the opponents. - I would make a passive lead (whatever seems less likely to give a trick away - because most likely partner has nothing and the declarer is going to be looking for the honor cards that you hold) Very rarely, and I mean very rarely you might want to make a despiration lead. (for example - you have a long suit that partner which showed a fit and a void in another suit - you might want to underlead an Ace to try to get partner in and give you a ruff). (I remember doing this 1 time in the last 4 years, although I see it all the time on BBO). As you have lesser information from the bidding, you should fall back on certain guidelines. 1) Against a 6NT or 7NT contract, make the safest lead possible from your hand - do not underlead a King or Queen. 2) Against a suit contract you can either decide to lead a trump as a safe lead or to make an attacking lead. As a general guideline, I lead safe except when long suits have been indicated, and trumps seem to be breaking well for declarer. A very good book to read, is called "Opening Leads" written I beleive by Mike Lawrence, my apologies if I got the author wrong. Cheers, Theo

I like to use Jacoby transfer and then bidding to the 4 level as a mild slam try after 1 NT opener. That way I can use Texas transfers with either weak or very strong hands. After a super acceptance, of the transfer, I agree with the 4 club cue-bid if that is the way you play it, some play 4 clubs after a transfer as Gerber. Even after a 4 diamond response, content yourself with 4 hearts and trust your partner to evaluate his hand. With a hand full of controls, he should bid on. I have the impression that many people don't realize that the captaincy of the bidding can pass back and forth. If you are not sure of where or how high you want to go, you can always bid to the limit of your hand and trust partner to reevaluate his hand in light of any new information. Cheers, Theo

I always simply accept the transfer unless I have a 4 trump fit and a maximum or near maximum with shape. Partner promises 5+ hearts, (almost always 5) in my experience, and 0 points. There are many times were partner would want to pass your transfer, but he can't do this if you continue to describe your hand, after the captaincy of the bidding has been passed over to him. Cheers, Theo

Conclusion number 1, partner is a super idiot, he can't possibly have a penalty double over a regular 2 NT opener. Conclusion number 2, partner is a super idiot pickup partner who doubled as a DONT bid or some other convention which describes a 1 suited hand (of course without telling you). Conclusion number 3, partner is your regular partner who doubled as a DONT bid or some other convention which describes a 1 suited hand (and you forgot your system ;) ). So did I guess right? ;) Lead the ♥ Q, pray very very hard that dummy has the ♥ King as his only honor card or that partner has it (yeah right :lol: ), and that declarer uses this entry to finesse to your doubleton ♣ Q. Declarer will not let you get in with a diamond if he can help it. Good luck, Theo

Double Theo

Pass. Partner could have made a game try ( I assume you play them) over 3 clubs and chose not to. The question you could ask yourself is whether partner has a heart control (and does it matter anyways even if he does have 2nd round control). Partner is 6-2-3-2 AJxxxx, Kx, xxx, Kx (plenty to go to 3 spades) (Partner should make a game try.) I can picture a defense of heart to the A, heart Q, K, ruff, heart, later lose a spade to the King and a diamond. Partner is 6-2-2-3 AJxxxx, Ax, xx, Qxx (plenty to go to 3 spades) (Partner should make a game try.) I can picture a defense of heart to the Q (duck or Grab the Ace? - does left hand opp have 1 or 2 hearts?) Say partner makes the right choice, now what? Does partner play right hand opp to be 2-6-1-4 or 3-5-1-4 or 0-5-4-4 or 3-6-0-4 or 3-5-2-3 or 2-5-3-3 (all sound reasonable to me but need to be declared differently - *ps I would play opp to have 5 hearts and 2 spades if declaring in 4 spades*) Bottom line, I don't think that partner has this much. Pass and double them if they go to the 4 level, partner should be good for 1 trick. Good luck, Theo

I ALLWAYS have 4+ trumps for a super-accept of a transfer bid (after a 1NT or 2NT opener), and my regular partners have learned to rely on this. Also, there have been many hands which I have had which would have passed after a transfer but change after a super-acceptance. The 9 card fit increases the value of the combined hands by at least an Ace. There are few bridge "rules" that I have not occasionally broken but this one and never passing a forcing bid by partner are 2 of them. I have learned to appreciate the value of the extra trump. It has kept me undoubled when the opps have a trump stack in an unmakable contract, and it usually gives extra options for declaring the hand. Love those extra trumps, ;) Theo

I'd open this hand with 2 spades, which I play with my partner as 5 spades exactly and 4+ cards in a minor suit. Usually we have a good 4 or 5 card suit and if partner is interested in a minor we have relays to procede. With this system I would definetly (spelling? :) ) bid diamonds later on which would give partner, and unfortunetly the opps, a good idea of my hand type. With this type of distribution I'm willing to risk a total misfit with partner's hand, because there could easily be at least a double game for both sides (or at least a good sacrifice for our side) and I hold the spade suit. Cheers, Theo

With a very good partner at my local club, we had this auction the last time I played. Partner dealt and bid... 1 ♠ - 2 ♣ - 2 ♦ - 2 ♥ (4th suit) - 3 NT I have Q10 ♠, K109x ♥, K10 ♦, AKQx ♣ I figured that he had a 5-3-4-1 pattern with between 16 to 20 point range. Since I wasn't playing with my regular partner, I couldn't ask for Aces without a possibility of missunderstanding. (We play SuperGerber, after a natural 3NT bid 5 ♣ asks for Aces). My 10's and 9's in partners suits figured to be worth their weight in gold and I made a quantative bid of 5NT, inviting 7NT and insisting on 6NT. My p closed the auction in 6NT which was made. Cheers Theo

These type of hands are part of my partner's and my 2♦ multi system. For example 2 ♦ (weak 2 in a major OR 2 NT opener OR 4441 with 16 to 21 points and small singleton. After any resonse by partner, opener bids the singleton suit. At the 3 level, after a 2♥ or 2 ♠ response by partner and at the 4 level after a 2 NT response by partner. If opps interfere with a barrage in the singleton, opener cue bids the suit for takeout. Doubles are for business. Cheers, Theo

1 Diamond I have an easy rebid of 2 diamonds after a 1 spade 1 NT or 2 clubs reply. If p replies 1 heart I can raise I would accept any invitaional bid after a heart fit is found. We could have an easy game with only 20 hcp. That would mean though that the opps also would have a game in spades, so I won't accept any double of partners against spades by opponents below the 5 level. I will have to have my antenna way up on this deal. Cheers, Theo

Bid 2 ♦ transfering to ♥, then bid 3 ♠ over the expected 2 ♥ bid, if partner bids 3NT over 3 ♠, bid 4 ♥. Partner should have a good idea about your shape. If partner super accepts in hearts or supports spades, I would cue bid 5 ♣ to see if he can cue bid 5 ♦. If so then go then bid 6 of the major otherwise bid close off in 5. Cheers, Theo

Automatic 4 ♥ Cheers, Theo

You could also use a weak 2 method of showing 5 ♠ and 4+ or 5+ of a minor suit depending on the vulnerability and agressiveness of your system. With regular partners, I play a weak 2 opening of a major promises exactly 5 cards in the major and 4+ cards in a minor suit. If the minor is a 4 card suit it will be pretty good in honor cards. A 6 card major suit - weak opening, is opened with a 2 ♦ Multi bid. Good luck, Theo :lol:

I would definetely bid 2 ♣ with regular partnership. We play full Garbage Stay. with short ♣, ♦ or ♥ over 1NT and short ♣ over 2NT. After a 2 ♦ answer to Stay. I would bid 2 ♥, which is weak with better or equal ♥'s and ♠'s and short ♦. If partner is 3,2,3,5 distribution, he will correct to 3 ♣. Theo

Double first for take out, and convert any club bids to equivelent NT levels. Any suit bid including diamonds I raise 1 level, (I ALWAYS assume that partner has responded with a minimum hand, theoretically this is 0 points, but you can't play with your head in the sand.) If LHO redoubles and it is passed around to me, I will bid 1NT (the best bid available I guess, even with a singleton club). Partner will know my strength, spade stoppers, and all transfer responses are on, including Garbage Stayman and minor suit stayman. Theo

Perhaps a possible route would be 1 NT -2 ♣ (able to use stayman because Delayed Texas is on our CC) 2 ♥ (I always respond with ♥ with 4-4 in majors)- 4 ♦ (Splinter)* *agrees hearts as trumps 4 ♠ (NT hand just grew) - 4 NT (keycard)** **(normally I would be worried about clubs but opposite a strong NT who cuebids my 6 card suit implies a control in clubs) after keycard north finds 1 Ace missing and bids 6 ♥. This doesn't have very complex methods, but requires judgement from both partners to re-evaluate their hands' potential as the bidding progresses. Theo

I use both Reverse Drury* and Jordon 2NT** bids after opening of a major by partner and double by opponent. Reverse Drury changes slightly in these situations, 1 ♥ - (X) - 2 ♣* = 3 or 4 card fit with 7-9 HCP's and balanced hand 1 ♥ - (X) - 2 ♥ = 3 or 4 card fit with 4-6 HCP's (3? better if in trump suit) :lol: 1 ♥ - (X) - 2 NT** = 4+ card raise with invitational hand or better (balanced hand) 1 ♥ - (X) - 3 ♥ = weak shapely raise 1 ♥ - (X) - 4 ♥ = weak shapely raise (the more trumps the better) Cheers, Theo

In my opinion, it is a mistake to raise to game DIRECTLY, with balenced opening bids and support for partners suit, even though I see it happening all the time by different opponents. A 1 ♥ - 4 ♥ or 1 ♠ - 4 ♠ bid, is best played as long trump support with shape and few high cards, and partner will never have any hesitation to pass. You can use - Jacoby 2 NT after a major opening to describe a 4 card fit with game going points and balanced hand, - splinters to describe a 4 card fit with game going points and a side singleton or void, - a delayed game raise to describe an opening bid with 3 card support. Partner should have a very good idea what to do after each of these bids if you use them all. With a pick-up partner I would pass in this situation, a quote by Barry Crane comes to mind, "If you ever need partner to have a specific magic hand, he won't have it"! :lol: Cheers, Theo

If you have discussed various hand types as resonder after 1 NT you can bid Stayman and if partner responds 2 Diamonds negative on the majors then follow up with a Delayed texas bid of 4 Diamonds forcing partner to bid 4 hearts. A possible sequence would be 1 NT - 2 ♣ * (Stayman) 2 ♦ - 4 ♦ * (Delayed Texas transfer) 4 ♥ I believe that partner will have some type of play for the game more times than not. If you don't feel like gambling and are playing Garbage or (Drop Dead Stayman) a possible sequence would be, 1 NT - 2 ♣ * (Stayman) 2 ♦ - 2 ♥ (Weak for passing) Of course if partner responds with a major you would decide whether to pass or put him into game. Personally I would go for the game. Cheers, Theo

These types of hands are why I like to play reverse Drury. If partner has opened light in 3rd or 4th seat, a 2 spade bid would would describe my hand exactly. 6-9 points in support of spades, I would bid 2 clubs to describe 10 - 11 points in support and Jacoby 2NT with more and a 4+ card fit. My double would say that I am maximum for my bid and I expect 2 trump tricks against a heart contract. Having said that, I would double at MP's, at IMP's it would be very, very close. (My estimate of declarers ability might pull me one way or another in favour of the double). I know that my regular partner is allowed to pull the double with a shapely hand, but my spot cards in the minors will help a lot to play through any strength that dummy may have. If I have a borderline double like this, I try usually to follow Lawrence's advice; he says, (paraphasing) "in these situations it pays to double just so that the opponents learn that they can't try to steal the hand from you without penalties, it goes a long way to earning a reputation as a tough opponent, and will pay off on other hands as well". Just a few of my thoughts, Cheers, Theo

I would bid it in the following way; 2 ♣ - P - 2 ♦* - P 2 ♠ - P - 3 ♠** - P 4 NT***- P - 5 ♦ or 5 ♣**** - P 6 ♠ - P - P - P * (Waiting) ** (Strong - no singleton otherwise would use Splinter) *** (Lots of controls so no worries about 2 quick losers) **** (Depending whether you use 3041 or 4130 Blackwood) Cheers, Theo

In my opinion, West should bid 4 spades at his first turn. This bid would show what he has, a relatively weak hand in points, but a self sustaining suit which can be played opposite a void. After partner opens you can bid 4 spades with this type of hand, and at least have a good play for game. The actual bidding 1 ♠ then 4 ♠ should show a much bigger hand, at least with the A ♦, so East is justified in looking for a slam. Regards, Theo :rolleyes:

1) 2 ♣ - Cue bid promising good hand with fit after an overcall by partner (90% of the time) or a good hand with my own solid suit (10% of the time). Promises a rebid. 2) 3NT - majors are splitting badly, and partner could have bid with a five card major suit and Texas transfers are still on after 3♣ overcall. It is very tempting to pass though. 3) 4 ♦ - Splinter bid. 4) 3 ♠ - Splinter bid. 5) 2 ♥ - The points are there for game but we need a club stopper for 3NT. I don't want to play in the 4-3 fit in spades because the long trump holding will be forced to ruff. Maybe a 5-2 Heart fit game is makeable if I can throw some clubs on partners diamonds. 6) 3 NT - no need to highlight a ♥ lead with a 3 ♥ bid. Shoot out the game, this is IMP's. 7) 2 NT - if partner has a 4 card major, we will find it, if he transfers, I will super accept to 4. If not then I might get a major suit lead :rolleyes: . 8) 2 of ♠, since spades weren't specifically mentioned, I don't like the way that ♦'s are breaking, though I may get a trick in ♣'s. I'd like to know if LHO promises a major suit or not.